Hodja Nasreddin and the Magic Tree – A Moral Turkish Fairy Tale for Children

Brief Description: This fairy tale tells the story of how wise Hodja Nasreddin solved the mystery of the magic tree. The story teaches children observation skills, cleverness, and attention to detail. A great choice for young children.

In a small village, there lived a man named Hodja Nasreddin. He was known by all as the wisest and most resourceful person in the area. He often helped his neighbors with wise advice, and because of that, he was respected and loved. One morning, wanting to take a walk, Hodja went into the forest to enjoy nature and ponder his thoughts.

During his walk, he came across a strange tree. The tree was tall, and its leaves shimmered in bright colors as if sunlight was playing on them. Hodja stopped and noticed that a sign had been nailed to the tree. The inscription read: "I am the magic tree. If you solve my riddle, I will give you an extraordinary fruit. But if you answer wrongly, you will never be able to pick my fruits again."

Curious, Hodja stopped in front of the tree and began to examine it carefully. Suddenly, the tree spoke in a voice that sounded like the wind rustling through the leaves: "Tell me, what becomes bigger the more you take from it?"

Hodja thought for a moment. His mind always worked quickly, but he knew that hasty answers could be wrong. He walked around the tree, carefully inspecting the ground, the leaves, and the branches. Soon, the villagers began to gather around, having heard that Hodja was trying to solve the magic tree's riddle. They silently waited for his answer.

Finally, Hodja raised his head and smiled. "It’s a debt. The more you take, the more you owe. That’s the answer," he said confidently.

The tree suddenly glowed with bright light, its leaves rustling as if they were happy. From the highest branch, a huge fruit fell, glowing with a golden light. The tree said: "You are right, Hodja Nasreddin. You have proven your wisdom. This fruit is your reward."

Hodja picked up the fruit, but instead of keeping it for himself, he suggested cutting it and sharing it with all the people gathered. The villagers were amazed by his generosity. The taste of the fruit was extraordinary, and its juice seemed to fill their hearts with happiness and peace.

Since then, the tree became a symbol of wisdom and generosity, and the story of Hodja Nasreddin and his cleverness has been passed down from generation to generation.

The Moral of the Story: This story teaches that wisdom and prudence help overcome even the most difficult challenges. Generosity and kindness make the world a better place.

Questions about the Story:

• Why did Hodja decide to think before answering the tree?
• What hint did the sign give?
• Why were the villagers so grateful to Hodja?